Front-mounted tractor mower



Feb. 3, 1950 s. E. HILBLOM FRONT MOUNTED TRACTOR MOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1944 mMQ Q wh

Feb. 7, 1H95 s. E. HILBLOM FRONT MOUNTED TRACTOR MOWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1, 1944 Janzuell. H Z077;

Patented Feb. 7, 1950 FRONT-MOUNTED TRACTOR MOWER Samuel E. Hilblom, Chicago, 111., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 1, 1944, Serial No. 533,471

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved front mounted tractor mower and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for positioning a mower forwardly of and in alinement with a tractor.

An important object of this invention is to provide a means for driving a front mounted mower and further means for allowing the mower to release rearwardly upon striking an obstruction without affecting the driving means.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an adjustable caster-wheel mounted intermediate th front of the tractor and the mower.

Another and still further important object of this invention is to provide a novel release mechanism to permit the mower to yield upon striking an obstruction and thereby prevent injury to the mower elements.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosure in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the front mounted tractor mower of this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the casterwheel and releasable latch;

Figure 3 is a further perspective view detail of the releasable latch;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the front mounted tractor mower; and,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

As shown in the drawings:

Reference numeral It indicates generally an agricultural tractor having an engine II, a narrow chassis or body l2 having an arched rear frame supported by traction wheels I3 and the forward load of the body is mounted on steerable wheels I4. The rear traction wheels [3 are mounted on stub axles in depending axle housings [5. A mower frame structure comprises a plurality of frame members attached at three different points on the tractor. A downwardly depending plate I6 is bolted or otherwise fastened as shown at H to the waist or body portion 12 of the tractor ID. A second frame member I8 is fastened through a plate l8 by means of bolts, or the like, [9 to a lug projecting forwardly from one of the depending axle housings l5. A third frame member 2| is mounted beneath the tractor at the forward end thereof within a square socket 22 supplied in a special steering wheel housing 23. The frame members [8 and 2! project forwardly and rearwardly respectively where they join with the centrally located plate member l6. A tubular member 24 extends laterally out from the tractor and is supported at its inner end by means of the three frame members [6, l8 and 2 i. The tube 24 is welded or otherwise fastened to the depending plate I5 at 25. The lower rearward end 26 of th rearwardly extending frame member 2! forms a support for this juncture of frame members. An inclined brace member 21 is welded or otherwise fastened at 28 near the upper end of the frame plate It and is welded to the outer end of the tube member 24 at 29 for rigidly supporting the tube 24. The outer end of the tube 24 is further supported by a frame member 3B which is welded or otherwise fastened to and extends forwardly and outwardly from the lug 20 on the depending axle housing I5 to insure rigid support of the tube 24 by fastening thereto. An additional brace member 3! joins the members it and 38 intermediate their ends by means of welds 32 and 33. It is apparent, therefore, that the frame structure just described is rigid with respect to the tractor and forms a sturdy mounting for the mower structure.

The laterally extending tube 24 is equipped with a spaced apart plate and bracket 34 and 35 respectively. A bracket 34, alined with and similar to the bracket 35, is welded or otherwise attached to the plate 34*. The plate and bracket 34 and 35 are welded or otherwise attached to the tube 24 at its inner end and, hence, form a rigid part of the stationary frame structure. A secondary frame structure is hinged to the stationary frame structure about the forward ends of the brackets 34 and 35. Transverse hinge pins 36 and 31 are fastened to the forward ends of the brackets 34 and 35 in axial alinement. A frame member 38, parallel with the tube 24 and positioned forwardly of the tube, is equipped with rearwardly extend-- ing lugs 39, 40, 4|, and 42. The lugs 39 and 40 are journally mounted on the hinge pin 36 and the lugs 4| and 42 are journally mounted on the hinge pin 31.

A push bar in the form of a tube 43 is inclined forwardly and downwardly and is welded or otherwise fastened to the outer end of the frame member 38 at 44. A brace member 45 is fastened at its inner end by a plate 46 to the frame member 38 and thereupon xtends forwardly and outwardly where it is fastened at the point 41 intermediate the ends of the tube 43. Another brace member 48 extends across the frame members 38 and 45 so that the secondary hinged frame structure is substantially an A frame. The forward end of the tube 43 forms the rear part of a vertical hinge 49, the forward complementary portion of which is the mower outer shoe 50.

The mower, in addition to having the outer shoe 5D, is equipped with a regular inner shoe 5I and a lateral extending cutter bar 52 disposed in advance of the tractor. The cutter bar 52 comprises a series of gathering points 53 and a reciprocating knife blade '54. The knife blade 54' is reciprocated'inthe usual manner by attachment to a pitman 55 which is in turn attached to a crank arm 56 of a fly-wheel 51. The flywheel is equipped with a hub 5l which' is adapted to abut the part 58 of the outer shoe 50.

The drive for the fly-wheel 5'!" is taken from a tractor power take-off shaft 59extending outwardly from the rear end of the tractor body I2. A drive shaft 60 is journaled within a housing 60 in the inner side of the depending axle housing I5, as shown in both of Figs. 1 and 4. Drive from the power take-off shaft 59 is imparted to theishaft Iii). byimeansof sprockets BI and 62 fastened to: the: ends of the shafts 59 and 63, respectively,1.andijoined :by' a. chain 63;. As best showmin. Figrll'ptheforward: end of the shaft 6D, projecting: outtfrom the housing 60, is joined by means. of aluniversal joint to a drive shaft 65: Thisi-isapossible because of the arched rear axleel ThefWhBQlSi-alti in fact mounted on stub axles. Algear boxrGBsis-mountd centrally of the tractorand: on". the: stationary frame member I5 assh'own: in Figure 5. A rearwardly extending stubivshaft 61 joins '.the' drive shaft 65 through a universal joint. 68: The forward end of the stubrlshaftlfi'l thas'fastenedt thereto a bevel gear GEL-within the; housing; 66; A second bevel gear I? is 'in cooperative :engagement with the gear 6 9 andi is'fast'ened to'ai shaft 'II which projects laterallyrandi extends. through the l tubular frame memberrM-r Azgear boxIZfis bolted or otherwise fastened at 'IZ-on the: outer end' of the tube 24 and;the-xframe3member"30;. Bevel gears 13and 14 3.113 jOllIHalBdnWithil'l the gearbox 12-andiare adapted tortransmitzrotation' of the shaft 'II at right angles thereto to-the-forwardly projecting: stubzshaft I: A universal joint I6 joins the stub shaft 'I5rwith'a drive shaft 1'! projecting forward- 1y,and: downwardlythrough the' push bartube- 43: It willbenoted in- Figure 4-that the universal joint I6 lieson the axis passing through the hinge members 36::andz3l and it is obvious that hinge movement of the secondary frame structure. withxrespect to'the stationary frame structure will not affectthe continued drive of the'drive shaft-I'I-.-

The-forward lower end of-the drive shaft I1 forms a part-of a=universal-joint I8. This universalajoint joins the drive-shaft TI with a shaft I9'extending'forwardly andon which is fastened the fly-wheeLhub- 51 The universal joint 18 is in axial alinement with; a vertical hingev 45) aboutwhich the? mow'eivmay swing rearwardlyl The swinging of -v-th'esmower rearwardly -is caused only by the striking of an obstruction andrthe overcoming ofva yieldablevlatch 80. The particularz positioning; of the universal joint 'IB-in axial alinement withithe hinge 49 permits this rearward rswinging of the mower without effecting'continued drive ofthe fly-wheel 57 and hence the reciprocation of theknife blade;

A hinge BI is inxaxial. alinement with the flywheel shaft 19 and comprises an arm 3I fixed to the inner shoe 5| andanarm 5|! fixed'to the outer shoe 50. The hinge BI and the shaft I9 form a hinge for. vertical movement of the cutter bar and inner shoe 5I with respectto the outer shoe 50. The vertical movement of the cutter bar about this hinge is effected by means of a cable 82 which is anchored at 83 adjacent the inner shoe 5|. A pulley 84 is rotatable in a bail 85 which is mounted on a bracket 86, in turn mounted on top of the outer shoe 50 by means of bolts, or the like, 81. The rear end of the'cable 82 is fastened to a hand lever 88 at 89; and it will be apparent that movement of the lever 88 in a rearward direction about its pivot 90 will effect a vertical raising of the cutter bar about the hinge BI and the shaft 19. The notched quadrant BI is mounted on the brace 3| adjacent the hand lever 88 and, by means of a reciprocable detent 9-2, the lever 88 is maintained in anyposition'desired. The detent 92 is movable in and out of position with respect to the notches in the quadrant 9| by means of a hand pressure lever 93 which raises and lowers a connecting rod 94. The cutter bar is raised to a vertical position wheniit' is desired to'transport the tractor without using the mower.

A caster wheel 95' is rotatable within a bail member:l6; the upper'shank portion 96 of which is journaled for rotation in a cylindrical bearing memberilllg Parallel links 98and SS-are journally mounted: on: the lower' andupper portions 98 and 99' respectively'of'the cylindrical'bearing 91 and extend rearwardly to the place where their ends I00 and H31, respectively, are journaled in depending lugs I02 and I03 from the tubular push member 43. This structure is probably best shownwinFigure 2"of the drawings. The lower parallel link 98 has welded thereto an upwardly extending bracket plate-I04; The upper end of this bracket plate I04 supports a pivotable threaded .blockeor: nut I05 which is adapted to receive a-threaded'shaft I06; The shaft I06 is journaled within a block I 01 which is pivoted by a cross pin ID I within a Ushaped bracket I08 weldedl as: at I08? or oth'erwisefastened to thepush tube .431 The blOCki I01 is held in position by retaining pins I 01 A rearward extension-of the threaded? shaft I06:forms part of r a universal joint I09: and thereupon. joins an elongated shaft I I0} theend of which'is journaled in an upwardly extending supporting frame III at I I2 and thereupon forms a crank I I3, the rotation of which causes rotation of the threaded shaft IDGrand' movement into or out of 'the pivotable block nut I05 on the parallel: arm bracket I 94-; It issapparentithatrotation ofthe crank I I3 will cause a raising or lowering of the casterwheel 95, depending uponithe direction of rotation of the crank, A.-'downward movement of which .ispositioned adjacent the operatorsseatv IM of the tractor I0 Inorder to moreeasily raise the mower. structure: about the hinges 38 and-.31, ahelping spring: H5 is positioned intermediate.a-bracket IIS on the endof the laterally extending. tube. M and a downwardly depending? bracket I I'Iawelded. at I Il -or otherwise attached: The spring IIS,

to the upper parallel arm. 99. tends always to. force the. caster-wheel r 95 r downwardly and it willnbereadily, understood that case of rotation of thecranklllto force thelcasl'erwheel 95 downwardly will be materially increased by the assistance of the spring H5. The frame member Hi is attached to the plate member l8 which also holds the members I8 and 30 and as previously stated is bolted to the tractor body by bolts I9.

When the mower swings rearwardly about the vertical hinge 49, the releasable latch 80 must open due to the application of a predetermined amount of force applied thereto. As best shown in Fig. 3, this latch 89 comprises telescopic bar members H8 and H9. The bar H8 is anchored to the push tube 43 by means of the upstanding pin II 8 extending through the aperture I29 in the bar H8. A rectangular strap I2I is fastened to the end of bar I I9 and is looped over the top of the bar H8, permitting sliding movement therethrough. As shown in Figure 3, the latch has been released and extended its maximum amount. The outer end of the bar H8 is equipped with a raised or humped portion I22 which limits the amount of extension between the telescopic members H8 and H9. A latch member I23 is fastened on top of the bar H9 by means of a bolt I24. A spring I25 is positioned intermediate a nut I26 on the bolt I24 and the surface of the latch member I23. It will be evident that the latch member I23 may be raised from the bar H9 upon compression of the spring I25. The latch member I23 has a raised hook-like end portion I2! which is adapted to engage the hump I22 of the bar H8. The closed position of the latch 89 is shown in Figures 2 and 4. U-shaped guides I28 and I29 are fastened to the underside of the bar H9 with the leg portions extending upwardly so that the telescoping bars H9 and H9 and the latch member I23 are properly guided. The dotted line position of the mower in Figure 4 is an indication of the position of the cutter bar and associated elements after the latch 89 has released, as shown in Figure 3. The outer end of the latch member I23 is attached to an arm I39 at I 9|. The forward end of the arm I30 is fixed at I32 on the outer shoe 50. The entire mower is permitted to swing about the hinge 49, upon sufficiently compressing the spring I25 by a tendency of the hook portion I21 of the latch to ride up and over the inclined hump I22 of the bar H9. If the cutter bar 52 strikes an obstruction, there is a tendency for the cutter bar and shoe portions of the mower to swing rearwardl about the hinge 49. The latch 89 prevents such rearward swinging until such time as the obstruction has exerted sufficient force on the arm I30 as to pull the hook part l2! over the hump I22 and thereupon permit the telescopic member H8 and H9 to separate. The mower cutter bar will then assume the position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 4. It will be apparent that the limiting position of the cutter bar is set to prevent the cutter bar from striking the steerable wheels I4 of the tractor. When the mower is released for rearward swinging, it then behooves the operator to stop the tractor as quickly as possible so as to prevent breaking of any of the mower elements. The latch 89 may be reset by pulling the cutter bar forward and the mower is then ready to again begin operation.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a new and novel front mounted tractor mower construction has been provided. The intention is to limit the invention only within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tractor-mounted mower comprising a tractor having a laterally extending horizontal stationary frame member, a mower having a horizontally positioned frame member, hinge means hingedly joining the mower frame member to the tractor stationary frame member, a push bar member attached to said horizontally positioned mower frame member and extending forwardly and downwardly, said mower having a second frame structure, and hinge means for hingedly connecting said mower frame structure with said push bar.

2. In a tractor-mounted mower comprising a tractor having a laterally extending horizontal stationary frame member, a mower having a horizontally positioned frame member, hinge means hingedly joining the mower frame member to the tractor stationar frame member, a push-bar member attached to said horizontally positioned mower frame member and extending forwardly and downwardly, said mower having a second frame structure, hinge means for hingedly connecting said mower frame structure with said push bar, a power take-off on said tractor, mower operating mechanism, drive-shaft means for connecting the tractor power take-off to the mower operating mechanism, and universal joints in said drive shaft means in axial alinement with each of the hinge means whereby mower operation is uninterrupted when hinging occurs.

3. In a tractor-mounted mower comprising a tractor having a laterally extending horizontal stationary frame member, a mower having a horizontally positioned frame member, hinge means hingedly joining the mower frame member to the tractor stationary frame member, a push-bar member attached to said horizontally positioned mower frame member and extending forwardly and downwardly, said mower having a frame structure at the forward end of said push-bar member, and hinge means for hingedly connecting said mower frame structure with said push bar, said mower having a laterally extending cutter bar hinged to said mower frame structure for vertical movement of the cutter bar.

4. In a tractor-mounted mower comprising a tractor having a laterally extending horizontal stationary frame member, a mower having a horizontally positioned frame member, hinge means hingedly joining the mower frame member to the tractor stationar frame member, a push-bar member attached to said horizontally positioned mower frame member and extending forwardly and downwardly, said mower having a frame structure at the forward end of said pushbar member, hinge means for hingedly connecting said mower frame structure with said push bar, said mower having a laterally extending cutter bar hinged to said mower frame structure for vertical movement of the cutter-bar, a knife blade on said cutter bar, and means for reciprocating said knife blade including a crank and a pitman, said crank being in axial alinement with the hinge on the cutter bar, whereby the cutter bar may be raised about the hinge and crank without interrupting knife blade drive.

5. In a tractor-mounted mower comprising a tractor having a laterally extending horizontal stationary frame member, a mower having a horizontally positioned frame member, hinge means hingedly joining the mower frame mem- 76 ber to the tractor stationary frame member, a

push-bar member attached to said horizontally positioned mower frame member and extending forwardly and downwardly, said mower having a frame structure at the forward end of said pushbar member, hinge means for hingedly connecting said mower frame structure with said push bar, said mower having a laterally extending cutter bar hinged to said mower frame structure for vertical movement of the cutter bar, a knife blade on said cutter bar, means for reciprocating said knife blade including a crank and a pitman, said crank being in axial alinement with the hinge on the cutter bar, a power take-off on the tractor, and drive shaft means extending from the tractor power take-off to the crank.

6. In a tractor-mounted mower comprising a tractor having a laterally extending horizontal stationary frame member, a mower having a horizontally positioned frame member, hinge means hingedly joining the mower frame member to the tractor stationary frame member, a pushbar member attached to said horizontally positioned mower frame member and extending forwardly and downwardly, said mower having a ground-engaging shoe structure, hinge means for hingedly connecting said shoe structure with said push bar, said mower having a laterally extending cutter bar hinged to said shoe structure for vertical movement of the cutter bar, a knife blade on said cutter bar, means for reciprocating said knife blade including a crank and a pitman, said crank being in axial alinement with the hinge on the cutter bar, a power take-off on the tractor, drive shaft means extending from the tractor power take-off to the crank, and universal joints insaid drive shaft means in axial alinement with each of the first two hinge means, whereby knife blade reciprocation is uninterrupted upon hinging movement around any of the three-named hinges.

7. In a tractor mower, a stationary frame structure extending laterally outwardly solely from one side of the tractor, a vertically swinging and forwardly extending mower frame structure hinged to said laterally extending frame structure, a second mower frame structure hinged to .1.

the forward end of said first mower frame for horizontal swinging movement, and a cutter bar hinged for vertical movement to said second frame structure and extending in a lateral direction opposite .to the laterally extending frame structure.

8. In a tractor mower, a stationary frame structure extending laterally outwardly from one side of the tractor, a vertically swinging and forwardly extending mower frame structure hinged to said laterally extending frame structure, a second mower frame structure hinged to the forward end of said first mOWer frame for horizontal swinging movement, a cutter bar hinged for vertical movement to said second frame structure and extending in a lateral direction opposite to the laterally extending frame structure, and means for effecting swinging movement of the mower elements about their respective hinges.

9. In a tractor mower having a cutter bar in front of the tractor, a pushbar extending forwardly from one side of the tractor and having the cutter bar extending laterally from the end thereof, a caster wheelmounted by parallel links for vertical movement with respect to the push bar, means for adjustably positioning said caster Wheel with respect to the push bar, said means comprising a threadedblock associated'with one of said parallel links, a fixed journal on said push bar, and a threaded shaft engaging said block and passing through said journal for rotation but not axial movement, whereby upon rotation of said shaft the block and the parallel link are optionally moved to and from said fixed journal.

10. In a tractor mower havinga cutter bar in front of the tractor, a push bar extending 'forwardly from one side-of the'tractor and having the cutter bar extending laterally from the end thereof, a caster wheel mounted by parallel links for vertical movement with respect to the push bar, means for adjustably'positioning'said'caster wheel with respect to the push bar, said means comprising a threaded block associated with one of said parallel links, a'fixed journal on said 'push bar, and a threaded shaft engaging said block and passing throughsaid journalfor rotation but no axial movement, whereupon upon rotation of said shaft the block and the parallel link-are optionally moved to and from said fixed journal, and a spring normally acting to force the other'of said parallel links downwardly.

11. In a tractor mower having a cutter 'bar in front of the tractor, a push bar extending forwardly from one side of the tractor-and having the cutter bar extending laterally from the end thereof, a caster wheel mounted by parallel links for vertical movement with respect to the push bar, means for adjustably positioning said caster wheel with respect to the push bar, said means comprising an internally threaded. block associated with one of said parallel links, a fixed journal on said push bar, and a threaded shaft engaging said block and passing through said journal for rotation but no axial movement, whereby upon rotation of said shaft the block and the parallel link are optionally moved to and from said fixed journal, and yieldable means acting to force the parallel links downwardly.

SAMUEL E. HILBLOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,533,359 White Apr. 14, 1925 2,120,671 Jensen et a1. June 14, 1938 2,136,834 Baird Nov. 15, .1938 2,143,473 Brown Jan, 10, 1939 2,150,350 Vargas Mar. 14, 1939 2,314,216 Hilblom Mar. 16, 1943 2,318,202 Colvin et al. May 4, 1943 2,340,488 Paradise et al. Feb. 1, .1944 

